THIRD GRADE MATCH REPORT

by the Lineside Lion

The Third Herd had been building nicely with some improving performances and some good passages of rugby. This was not one of them and will be one they will want to put behind them.

Although there were some good individual performances and the occasional coordinated passage of play 3rds lacked penetration going down 50-0 to an experienced and well-oiled Wanneroo outfit.

Sadly, perhaps the highlight of the game was Chalky’s halftime display of his command of the Queen’s English mixing emotion with strong words.

However, for all that Dawid Van Sittert never stopped trying all day and deservedly came away with the 3rds man of the match whilst intercept specialist Dan Hutton showed courage, if an unorthodox approach to tackling, when he used his forehead to trip his opposite number coming away with another addition to his collection of scars and an (almost) all expenses paid trip to emergency.

Sam Robinson left the field after he and the Wanneroo centre endeavoured to re-enact the scene from Dirty Dancing where Baby is lifted in the air. As Sam collected the ball for the kick return the sea of players parted and his eyes and the Wanneroo 12’s locked. It was as if the dance floor was theirs alone and only these two mattered. Neither had eyes for anyone else.

Of course, we all know Patrick Swayze hoisted Jennfier Grey, the music soared, boy from the wrong side of the tracks kisses upper class rich girl, the social divide is bridged, romance blossoms, happy ending. Not so here.

Sam dropped his shoulder, your man got his head on the wrong side of Rampaging Robinson and both went down in a shuddering heap more reminiscent of a train derailment than a choreographed dance scene, Sam nursing a sore shoulder, your man twitching reflexively on the ground. Out comes the blue card and as Corbett and Barker might have said “And its good night from me and its good night from him”. Unfortunately, Sam didn’t escape unscathed and left the field too.

Not to be outdone Ray and Han had their own intimate moment with both mistiming their tackle and zigging when they should have zagged to tackle each other missing their man completely and both coming off worse for wear.

The situation was not helped with a deepening injury toll and touch judge Ronan O’Shea pressed into service at half back in the second half.

Chalky was pleased with the effort from many individuals, but non-plussed with the lack of cohesion especially after the boys had been building so well. “The same guys gave good service but it wasn’t co-ordinated. Johnny Bigwood, Dan Hutton, Dawid, Dr Jack, Han and Rayden when he was on and Jarrod Durham all fired but not at once and not in synch.”

“Wanneroo are obviously a team that train together and it showed. Until we can get our whole team to training we will continue to have days like this”.

The Thirds remains in search of their still elusive maiden victory in 2018.